Removal of fines will make using libraries across Dublin more appealing – McAuliffe

Dublin City Council has confirmed this week that library members will no longer have to pay fines for overdue items and existing fines will not be collected.

Fianna Fáil Dublin City Councillor and General Election Candidate in Dublin North West, Paul McAuliffe believes this welcome initiative will help make using libraries more popular and attract new members.

He said, “Promoting the use of libraries in our community is vitally important. Library services are a massive resource to any area and it is a positive, healthy space in our community.

“Library charges have been shown to dissuade people borrowing books altogether while in fact doing little to ensure timely returns.As a parent of two young children, I believe any measure that has even the slightest potential to encourage people who have never previously used a library, to nip in and see what it has to offer, is to be welcomed.

He concluded, “It’s important that library members still renew items and that materials out for use are returned but abolishing fines is certainly needed to attract new people to join their local library.”